What This Article Covers:
This article explores how to design a unique executive team offsite that combines leadership development with experiential team building integrating Everything DiSC. Learn why HR and Learning & Development leaders are choosing immersive offsites over traditional training sessions. This experience was hosted and led by Marisa Santoro, with In Our Shoes.
A Leadership Experience That Goes Beyond Traditional Team Building
There’s something special that happens when you take leaders out of their everyday environment and give them space to learn, reflect, and connect. Last week, in our SoHo, NYC meeting room we held a unique shared experience for an executive offsite designed to bring a leadership team closer together using Everything DiSC® followed by a fun wine tasting exploring the regions of Italy.
We had the privilege of leading an executive team through a full day of connection-centered development using Everything DiSC®. Our cozy SoHo space allowed the energy to shift upon entering. Leaders stepped out of busy roles and into a space where they could slow down, reflect, and engage with each other in a different way.
Everything DiSC® in Action: Real Conversations, Real Insights
We focused on and discussed:
- Personal preferences and how we tend to show up at work
- Where we place their priorities and what motivates us and causes stress in daily interactions
- Specific ways in which we would like others to communicate with us (peers, staff, board members, etc. )
- What it’s like to spend a day in our shoes, expressing their fears and how they are often misunderstood.
Make no mistake this is as much as sensitivity training as it is leadership. When leaders understand what makes them tick and how they relate to others — that’s where transformation happens. You are improving communication and building better teams.
Throughout the session, we leaned into what Everything DiSC® does best — helping leaders see themselves and each other in an empathic way and based on proven data. You can take the DiSC assessment 20 years from now or 20 years ago and your profile will typically be the same. All based on 90+ years of research originally developed out of Columbia University.
Key Leadership Development Outcomes
- Greater awareness of individual work styles and leadership tendencies
- Improved communication across DiSC personality styles
- Increased empathy and collaboration among leadership peers
- Practical strategies for navigating conflict and strengthening relationships
Through facilitated discussion, reflection exercises, and team dialogue, leaders explored how their natural behavioral styles influence:
- Workplace culture
- Decision-making
- Feedback delivery
- Team motivation
After an energizing day of team building and leadership development, we transitioned to a wine tasting experience centered around the theme: “Learn Your Wine Style.”
A Unique Team Building Experience: “Learn Your Wine Style”
Following the DiSC session, the experience transitioned into a distinctive team-building activity, led by our partner Immerse Italy, CEO Lisa Saunders hosted a curated wine tasting designed to extend learning through connection and storytelling. A Unique Team Building Experience: “Learn Your Wine Style”
Much like a find bottle of aged wine, we are all learning and growing!
- Everyone has preferences
- Everyone brings something different to the table
- Understanding those differences makes the experience even richer
A Team Offsite That Stands Out
Whether leading a workshop, webinar or in-person event such as this one, we incorporate experiential learning, meaningful team connection and a unique environment that feels personal and memorable.
Environment also matters. Brick walls, warm lighting, and an intimate layout makes the experience feel relaxed and welcoming — the kind of space where real conversations happen.
Enjoy this personal walk-through to imagine your next leader offsite!
Our ‘Why’
At In Our Shoes, our mission has always been to create leadership experiences that feel personal, energizing, and meaningful. We want people to leave feeling inspired — not just informed with great learning that doesn’t become shelf-help.
When you blend leadership development with creativity and connection you inevitably set the tone for how you want the team to lead – with the freedom to share their ideas, drive innovation and have fun doing it.
🧩In Our Shoes delivers:
- Executive team building offsites and corporate events in SoHo, New York City
- Leadership and manager development programs
- Training and development staff augmentation — offering experienced facilitators, program managers, and coaches to extend your internal L&D capacity
- Everything DiSC, Hogan and StrengthsFinder assessments for leaders, managers, and teams
- DiSC Certifications that allow your internal team to become DiSC Certified Facilitators, so they can confidently debrief profiles, lead workshops, and embed the language of DiSC into your culture
📅 Schedule a call to discuss your organization’s learning and development goals and explore how to build a more emotionally intelligent, future-ready workforce. 1.844.626.3410
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Team Offsites in NYC
If you’re an L&D leader exploring a high-impact executive offsite experience in New York City, these are the most common questions we hear.
What is an executive team offsite?
How does Everything DiSC® help executive teams?
What makes your NYC executive offsite experience different from typical team building?
Why include a “Learn Your Wine Style” tasting in a leadership offsite?
Who is this leadership offsite ideal for?
What outcomes can organizations expect from an Everything DiSC® executive offsite?
About Us
In Our Shoes® partners with organizations to design and deliver leadership development, manager coaching, and AI workforce transformation programs. Our team has delivered training across industries for directors, managers, and high-potential talent, and is certified in Everything DiSC® facilitation, change management, and AI-enabled learning design.
